October 17, 2022

Posted: October 14, 2022 | Updated: August 24, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   OCTOBER 17, 2022

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING:             5:30 P.M. CITY HALL, 130 N PARK PLACE

 

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED

GOVERNMENTAL BODY WILL MEET AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SET OUT ABOVE.  THE TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR SAID MEETING IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

ROLL CALL:  KRIENER, McCONNELL, FORTUNE, BOUSKA, CARMAN

 

ACT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the consent agenda will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time council votes on the motion.

 

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Approval of Minutes from October 3, 2022
  4. Approval of Minutes from October 12, 2022 Special Meeting
  5. Approval of Street Closing Permit for Portions of 3rd Ave W, 2nd St W, Alley Between 3rd Ave W and 4th Ave W, and North Elm St for United Methodist Church Swiss Steak Dinner on November 21, 2022
  1. Approval of Designated Snowmobile Trail in City Limits for December 1, 2022 through April 1, 2023
  2. Approval of Owner-Occupied Housing Contractor Request for Payment #1 for $11,782.35 for Arlyn Skoda – Skoda Home Improvement

 

STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. Public Works
  2. Police
  3. Administration
  4. Committee Updates

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: (This portion of the agenda is for comments that are not related to one of the items listed on the agenda.  Comments can only be received. No formal action by the Council can be taken.    Those making public comments will be asked to state their name and address, and to speak from the podium.)

 

BUSINESS:  There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. WHKS to Present the Proposed Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project
  2. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. Regarding the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project
  3. Preliminary Resolution for the Construction of Crosswalks, Sidewalks, Pedestrian Ramps and Other Public Improvements in the City of Cresco, State of Iowa
  4. Resolution Fixing Values of Lots
  5. Resolution Adopting Preliminary Plat and Schedule, Estimate of Cost and Proposed Plans and Specifications for the Construction of the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction
  6. Resolution of Necessity (Proposed)

 

  1. WHKS to Present the Proposed 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project
  2. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. Regarding the 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project
  3. Preliminary Resolution for the Construction of Street, Water, Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer and Other Public Improvements in the City of Cresco, State of Iowa
  4. Resolution Fixing Values of Lots
  5. Resolution Adopting Preliminary Plat and Schedule, Estimate of Cost and Proposed Plans and Specifications for the Construction of the 7th Street West Reconstruction
  6. Resolution of Necessity (Proposed)

 

  1. Motion to Award Contract to Dave’s Home Improvement for $52,379 under the Owner-Occupied Housing CDBG Grant
  2. Discuss Proposed Eagle Scout Project on King’s Road

 

ADJOURN:

 

THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 21, CODE OF IOWA AND THE LOCAL RULES OF SAID GOVERNMENTAL BODY.  POSTED OCTOBER 14, 2022.

MINUTES

Mayor Brenno called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on October 17, 2022, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Kriener, McConnell, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman were present. No council members were absent.

Bouska made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from October 3rd and 12th, 2022; Street Closing Permit for portions of 3rd Ave W, 2nd St W, alley between 3rd Ave W and 4th Ave W, and North Elm St for United Methodist Church swiss steak dinner on November 21, 2022; designated snowmobile trail in city limits for December 1, 2022 through April 1, 2023; owner-occupied housing contractor request for payment #1 for $11,782.35 for Arlyn Skoda – Skoda Home Improvement. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported: (a) CIT repaired critical issues that were discovered during their inspection and cleaning of sanitary sewers; (b) applying for grant from Alliant Energy for boulevard trees. Property owners may request free trees by contacting city hall; (c) sand and salt have been hauled in to prepare for winter; (d) all departments are preparing for winter.

City Clerk Elton reported for the Police: (a) the new Charger is getting new equipment installed this week; (b) Officer Blake Welper graduates from the academy on the 21st and will be back to work on the 25th; (c) Officer Gatlin Keehner is half done with the long academy so he has eight more weeks.

Elton reported: (a) budget worksheets are being delivered to department heads; (b) Council is ranking CIP projects to be returned this week; (c) Amber Yanes started today as the new utility billing clerk; (d) most of the employee evaluations have been turned in and finishing up the remaining ones.

Fortune reported the Theatre Commission met and worked on the budget and reviewed the CIP projects submitted. The Scene Shop Committee met and are applying for an Emergency Theatre Community Catalyst Building and Remediation Program Grant. The State will be awarding five $100,000 grants. The Theatre Trust has $96,000 cash available and will be applying for grants from Alliant Energy, Black Hills, Walmart, and others. They will also do fundraising and already have a $30,000 pledge. The project must be completed within one year if the grant is awarded.

McConnell reported the Airport Commission met and prepared their budget. The grant application for the second phase of the runway improvement project was denied.

Bouska reported she attended the “Get Charged Up EV Event” in Calmar. It was well attended and many owners brought their electric cars. They discussed charging infrastructure, funding, and how utilities are working on it.

Mayor Brenno asked for comments from the audience. Angela Bries requested the Council consider changing the ordinances to shorten the time owners have to deal with infractions on their properties and to enforce the ordinances city-wide. She also requested Council address people living in campers and tents in the city.

State Representative Mike Bergan introduced himself to the Council. He currently represents portions of Winneshiek, Fayette, and Clayton County. After redistricting, all of Winneshiek and Howard County and part of Fayette County will make up new District 63. He is running for re-election.

Scott Huneke from WHKS presented the proposed Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. Special assessment projects have several required steps to follow and the attorney has drafted the proposed resolutions. The proposed project is located on North Elm Street from 1st Ave to 3rd Ave. The project consists of replacing the existing crosswalks, installing ADA compliant pedestrian ramps, and replacing all existing sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. The 8-inch watermain was installed in 1983 and is in good condition so that will not be replaced. Valve boxes will need to be replaced. Some storm sewer intakes may need to be moved if in conflict with the ramps. The street is in good condition and will not be replaced except the crosswalks which are in poor condition. The sidewalks are in fair condition but do not meet ADA requirements so will need to be replaced. The Engineer’s opinion of probable construction costs is $797,980 for the total project of which $251,770 is assessable. The average assessment for the 48 properties is $4,900. Costs for curb and gutter and street replacement is assessed at 50% and sidewalk replacement is recommended at 90%. The ordinance states that property owners must pay all of the cost for replacement, but since it is being done as an assessment project, the attorney has advised that is should be assessed less than 100%. The council will need to hold a public hearing and mail notices to each property owner. It is anticipated to go out for bids in April for work to be done in 2023.

Carman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. regarding the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the preliminary resolution for the construction of crosswalks, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps and other public improvements in the City of Cresco, State of Iowa. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution fixing values of lots for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to approve the resolution adopting preliminary plat and schedule, estimate of cost and proposed plans and specifications for the construction of the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to approve the resolution of necessity (proposed) for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. The public hearing is set for 5:30 pm on November 7, 2022. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Daren Sikkink from WHKS presented the proposed 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. The proposed project is on 7th Street West from Highway 9 to 4th Avenue West. The project consists of replacing 4-inch watermain, clay sanitary sewer main, and some sanitary manholes. The proposed project also includes installing 48-inch storm sewer mains, capping the sinkhole, and constructing a stormwater filtration basin near the airport to control stormwater volume. The basin must not retain water for more than 48 hours due to FAA regulations since it is close to the runway. The recommendation is to narrow the street from 36-foot wide to 31-foot wide except the first 500 feet north of Highway 9. The City’s standard width of city streets is 31-foot wide. The Engineer’s opinion of probable construction costs is $3,077,175 for the total project of which $568,450 is assessable. Assessable costs do not include street intersections, water main, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, capping the sinkhole, and the basin construction.  Council discussed the total cost increase of 15% from the September 2021 preliminary estimate. Council requested WHKS to get cost estimates if the project would be shortened to go from Highway 9 to just past 2nd Ave West.

Bouska made the motion to table any action on the proposed 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project until revised costs for an amended project scope can be reviewed. Kriener seconded and Bouska, Fortune, Kriener, and McConnell voted aye. Carman voted nay. The motion passed by majority vote and agenda item numbers 8 -12 were tabled.

Bouska made the motion to award a contract to Dave’s Home Improvement from West Union for $52,379 under the Owner-Occupied Housing CDBG Grant. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Ann Casper requested Council to consider allowing her son, Ethan, to present a proposal for an Eagle Scout Project on city-owned property on King’s Road. Council was not aware of owning this property and since it is so far from the city, maintenance after the project would need to be figured out. Kriener will talk with the County or State to see if they would be interested in the property if the City were to donate it to them since it is surrounded by State-owned land. Council encouraged Ethan to prepare a proposal because the project could be done whether the City owns it or another governmental agency.

Carman moved to adjourn at 7:15 pm. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be November 7, 2022, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor: David J. Brenno
City Clerk: Michelle Elton

Documents

2022 City Council Agendas, Minutes